The spirit of ski racing is swirling around Soelden, as the crew preps the stage for one of the biggest shows in ski racing: the Audi FIS Ski World Cup opener kicking off the 50th anniversary of the tour.

In the past, Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has said that Val d’Isere’s La Face de Bellvarde is “miserable to ski,” and Saturday’s race confirmed that, as Ligety made a big mistake in the giant slalom and did not qualify for second run.

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Skiing always comes first for 2006 and 2014 Olympic gold medalist and five-time World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety. Whether it's dropping cliffs, taking the snowmobiles into the Utah backcountry or laying down some of the most incredible angles in all of ski racing, "Shred" is constantly pushing and evolving the sport.

Ligety had a lot to live up to following a historic 2013 season that solidified him as one of the legends of the sport. He again set the tone with season-opening wins in Soelden and Beaver Creek, and then rocketed into Sochi as the favorite to win the giant slalom gold medal. Being the favorite and then delivering on that expectation is the most challenging position to hold in all of sport. Ligety delivered and became the first American man to win a giant slalom gold medal, which also marked him as the only man in U.S. history to win two Olympic gold medals in alpine skiing.

In 2015, Ligety successfully defended his World Championships giant slalom title—his third straight—which was his biggest goal. With World Championships on home soil and a track that Ligety loves, it was an arc-er's show starring Ted Ligety. He shredded the track, gaining speed and building his lead the entire way down, and he gave the massive crowd something to cheer for. The 2016 season started off with a bang for Ligety, as he won the giant slalom over France's Thomas Fanara and rival Marcel Hirscher from Austria, and then snagged a surprise second place ahead of teammate Andrew Weibrecht in the super G at Birds of Prey on a technical course set, which was a historic day for the American men with four in the top 11. Ligety struggled to find his groove, though, and a mid-season crash during training at Oberjoch, Germany resulted in a career first season-ending knee injury. Ligety looks to come back stronger than ever for the 2017 season as he sets his sights on the giant slalom title once again, and hopes to defend his World Championship title at St. Moritz.

FIRST TRACKSLigety was on skis at two and began racing at 11, working his way from the Park City Farm Team on up to the Park City Ski Team. Although he played other sports as he went into high school, he says, “Skiing really was my only passion.” U.S. coaches watched and waited as he worked up through the junior ranks, and when he collected slalom silver at the 2004 Junior World Championships and then 23rd in a World Cup slalom, he clinched a place on the ’05 U.S. Ski Team.

OFF THE SNOWLigety is the mastermind behind Shred, a company he started with friend Carlo Salmini following the 2006 Olympics. Originally started with goggles, Shred now makes helmets, sunglasses, gloves and outerwear, but more importantly pushes the style envelop with ski racing. Aside from the biz, Ligety digs tennis, Formula one racing, waterskiing, ripping around the Utah backcountry and playing badminton in his backyard court.